Monday, August 31, 2015

During the fourth week of August 2015 the security situation
in Iraq was unchanged from the week before. The number of attacks and
casualties were just about the same. The Islamic State (IS) continued with its
latest car bomb campaign launching almost one hundred during the week. The
government continued to push into Ramadi and fight for control of Baiji in
Salahaddin, while the Kurds began a new campaign, which recaptured several
towns in southern Kirkuk.

From August 22-28, 2015 there were 136 reported attacks.
That was the exact same number as the week before. So far this month there has
been an average of 19.9 attacks per day, almost exactly the same as July’s 19.6
average. There is always more violence in Iraq then what gets in the media.

Those incidents led to 342 killed and 296 wounded. The
former consisted of 12 Sahwa, 19 Peshmerga, 32 Hashd al-Shaabi, 114 members of
the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and 165 civilians. The former was made up of 2
Hashd, 6 Sahwa, 29 Peshmerga, 73 ISF, and 186 civilians. The 638 total
casualties were slightly below August 15-21’s 699. The number of dead and
wounded is always undercounted in Iraq. There are many incidents that don’t get
covered and the government is actively suppressing losses to maintain morale.

By province, there were 102 killed in Ninewa, 83 in Anbar,
73 in Salahaddin, 58 in Baghdad, 21 in Kirkuk, 4 in Babil, and 1 in Diyala.
Usually the capital province leads the way in fatalities, but IS executions in
Ninewa and heavy fighting in Anbar and Salahaddin made Baghdad fourth overall
this week.

Violence
In Iraq By Week 2015

Date

Incidents

Dead

Wounded

Jan 1-7

189

466

464

Jan 8-14

172

733

518

Jan 15-21

189

403

528

Jan 22-28

195

492

899

Jan 29-31

91

306

568

JAN

836

2,400

2,977

Feb 1-7

155

408

688

Feb 8-14

177

443

566

Feb 15-21

169

592

383

Feb 22-28

171

391

705

FEB

672

1,834

2,342

Mar 1-7

176

373

595

Mar 8-14

137

398

656

Mar 15-21

146

1,304

505

Mar 22-28

174

273

406

Mar 29-31

72

205

219

MAR

705

2,553 + 4

2,381 + 150

Apr 1-7

127

218

422

Apr 8-14

137

676

542

Apr 15-21

172

729

717

Apr 22-28

163

497

483

Apr 29-30

50

162
+ 7

182
+ 299

APR

649

2,282

2,346

May 1-7

154

627

450

May 8-14

154

420

549

May 15-21

124

963

387

May 22-28

108

341
+ 1,499

348

May 29-31

38

66

164
+ 646

MAY

578

2,417 + 1,499

1,898 + 646

Jun 1-7

132

431

476

Jun 8-14

126

522
+ 405

394

Jun 15-21

141

365

373

Jun 22-28

162

306

474

Jun 29-30

61

122

189

JUN

622

1,804

2,012

Jul 1-7

161

435

719

Jul 8-14

140

384

570

Jul 15-21

109

359

597
+ 4,024

Jul 22-28

145

527

590

Jul 29-31

53

453
+ 8

603

JUL

608

2,166

3,079 + 4,024

Aug 1-7

154

650
+ 760

298

Aug 8-14

132

726

645

Aug 15-21

136

345

354

Aug 22-28

136

324

296

Violence
In Iraq August 2015 by Province

Provinces

Aug
1-7

Aug
8-14

Anbar

46 Incidents

76 Killed: 5 Hashd, 6 Sahwa, 22
ISF, 43 Civilians

42 Wounded: 5 Sahwa, 17 ISF, 20
Civilians

22 Shootings

4 IEDs

3 Suicide Car Bombs

2 Mortars

4 Suicide Bombers Killed

12 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed

2 Car Bombs Destroyed

18 Incidents

45 Killed: 14 ISF, 31 Civilians

44 Wounded: 10 ISF, 34 Civilians

6 Shootings

2 IEDs

10 Suicide Bombers

6 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed

6 Car Bombs Destroyed

Babil

6 Incidents

5 Killed: 2 Sahwa, 3 Civilians

15 Wounded: 1 ISF, 2 Sahwa, 12
Civilians

3 IEDs

2 Sticky Bomb

10 Incidents

14 Killed: 4 ISF, 10 Civilians

26 Wounded: 5 ISF, 21 Civilians

3 Shootings

3 IEDs

2 Sticky Bombs

1 Car Bomb Destroyed

Baghdad

46 Incidents

57 Killed: 1 Sahwa, 3 ISF, 53
Civilians

154 Wounded: 1 Sahwa, 2 ISF, 151
Civilians

9 Shootings

22 IEDs

7 Sticky Bombs

2 Car Bombs

1 Rocket

3 Car Bombs Destroyed

48 Incidents

130 Killed: 130 Civilians

404 Wounded: 404 Civilians

11 Shootings

29 IEDs

2 Sticky Bombs

3 Car Bombs

8 Car Bombs Destroyed

Diyala

8 Incidents

15 Killed: 1 Hashd, 3 ISF, 11
Civilians

29 Wounded: 29 Civilians

1 Shooting

4 IEDs

2 Car Bombs

1 Mortar

11 Incidents

73 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 Sahwa, 5
ISF, 65 Civilians

123 Wounded: 123 Civilians

2 Shootings

1 IED

2 Suicide Car Bombs

1 Car Bomb

1 Mortar

Irbil

1 Incident

12 Killed: 3 PKK, 9 Civilians

13 Wounded: 13 Civilians

1 Turkish Air Strike

-

Kirkuk

7 Incidents

64 Killed: 7 ISF, 57 Civilians

2 Wounded: 2 Civilians

6 Shootings

1 Grenade

9 Incidents

31 Killed: 11 Civilians, 20 ISF

13 Wounded: 13 Civilians

4 Shootings

3 IEDs

1 Car Bomb

Ninewa

24 Incidents

374 Killed: 30 ISF, 344 Civilians
+ 760 Civilians

4 Wounded: 4 Civilians

12 Shootings

2 Rockets

18 Incidents

254 Killed: 13 Peshmerga, 241
Civilians

10 Wounded, 5 Peshmerga, 5
Civilians

6 Shootings

10 IEDs

2 Rockets

3 Mortars

Salahaddin

16 Incidents

47 Killed: 5 ISF, 8 Civilians, 34
Hashd

39 Wounded: 5 ISF, 34 Civilians

11 Shootings

3 IEDs

1 Sticky Bomb

1 Suicide Motorcycle Bomb

1 Suicide Bomber Killed

17 Incidents

49 Killed: 7 Hashd, 12 ISF, 30
Civilians

24 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 4 Sahwa, 10
ISF, 9 Civilians

11 Shootings

1 IED

1 Sticky Bomb

1 Suicide Motorcycle Bomb

12 Car Bombs

1 Mortar

1 Car Bomb
Destroyed

Provinces

Aug
15-21

Aug
22-28

Anbar

24 Incidents

71 Killed: 22 ISF, 49 Hashd

23 Wounded: 23 ISF

12 Shootings

4 Suicide Car Bombs

2 Rockets

8 Suicide Bombers Killed

1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed

27 Car Bombs Destroyed

30 Incidents

83 Killed: 12 Sahwa, 35 ISF, 36
Civilians

71 Wounded: 6 Sahwa, 12 Civilians
53 ISF

11 Shootings

2 IEDs

6 Suicide Car Bombs

1 Mortar

2 Rockets

11 Suicide Bombers Killed

9 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed

6 Car Bombs Destroyed

Babil

7 Incidents

9 Killed: 1 ISF, 8 Civilians

23 Wounded: 9 ISF, 14 Civilians

3 Shootings

4 IEDs

4 Incidents

4 Killed: 4 Civilians

3 Wounded: 3 Civilians

1 Shooting

1 IED

Baghdad

35 Incidents

67 Killed: 1 Hashd, 2 Sahwa, 3
ISF, 61 Civilians

237 Wounded: 3 Sahwa, 13 ISF, 221
Civilians

5 Shootings

21 IEDs

2 Sticky Bombs

4 Car Bombs

1 Mortar

48 Incidents

58 Killed: 13 ISF, 45 Civilians

163 Wounded: 10 ISF, 153 Civilians

12 Shootings

21 IEDs

8 Sticky Bombs

2 Car Bombs

1 Car Bomb Destroyed

Diyala

10 Incidents

8 Killed: 1 ISF, 2 Hashd, 5
Civilians

12 Wounded: 2 Hashd, 10 Civilians

2 Shootings

5 IEDs

2 Incidents

1 Killed: 1 Civilian

1 Shooting

6 Car Bombs Destroyed

Irbil

2 Incidents

29 Killed: 29 PKK

-

Karbala

1 Incident

1 Suicide Car Bomb Destroyed

-

Kirkuk

11 Incidents

26 Killed: 1 Peshmerga, 25
Civilians

3 Wounded: 3 Civilians

2 Shootings

1 IED

1 Car Bomb

1 Rockets

15 Incidents

21 Killed: 2 Hashd, 3 ISF, 11
Peshmerga

34 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 8 ISF, 24
Peshmerga

5 Shootings

2 IEDs

1 Motorcycle Bomb

1 Suicide Car Bomb

1 Rocket

Ninewa

15 Incidents

76 Killed: 21 Peshmerga, 55
Civilians

1 Wounded: 1 Peshmerga

3 Shootings

4 Mortars

3 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed

15 Incidents

102 Killed: 8 Peshmerga, 47 ISF,
47 Civilians

13 Wounded: 5 Peshmerga, 8
Civilians

5 Shootings

3 IEDs

1 Mortar

Salahaddin

31 Incidents

59 Killed: 3 ISF, 17 Civilians, 39
Hashd

55 Wounded: 16 Civilians, 39 Hashd

14 Shootings

5 IEDs

1 Suicide Car Bomb

2 Car Bombs

1 Mortar

11 Suicide Car Bombs Destroyed

98 Car Bombs Destroyed

22 Incidents

73 Killed: 16 ISF, 30 Hashd, 27
Civilians

12 Wounded: 1 Hashd, 2 ISF, 9
Civilians

15 Shootings

4 IEDs

2 Suicide Bombers Killed

61 Car Bombs Destroyed

Car
Bombs In Iraq, August 2015

Date

Location

Dead

Wounded

Aug 1

Saqqara, Anbar – 8
destroyed

Aug 2

Aug 3

Aug 4

Balladries,
Diyala

7

10

Aug 5

?
x3, Anbar

Sadr
City x2, Baghdad

Khalkis,
Diyala

Anbar Unit,
Saqlawiya, South of Fallujah, Anbar – 6 destroyed

Amiriya,
Husseiniya & Sadiya, Baghdad – 3 destroyed

32

40

Aug 6

Aug 7

Totals

7 & 17 Destroyed

39

50

Aug 8

Ramadi, Anbar
– 4 destroyed

Amiriya,
Baghdad – 1 dismantled

Aug 9

Abadi,
Mukhayb, Tal Al-Mushahid, Anbar – 4 destroyed

Aug 10

Howaider
& Kanaan, Diyala

Baghdad – 7
destroyed

63

101

Aug 11

Samarra,
Salahaddin – 1 destroyed

Aug 12

New
Baghdad & Shomook, Baghdad

Khalis,
Diyala

10

40

Aug 13

Sadr
City, Baghdad

East Husaiba
& Saqlawiya, Anbar – 2 destroyed

Mahawil, Babil
– 1 destroyed

76

221

Aug 14

Yarmouk,
Kirkuk

Baiji
x 12, Salahaddin

Albu Jassim,
Anbar – 2 destroyed

3

4

Totals

19 & 22 Destroyed

152

366

Aug 15

Habibiya
& Shuhada, Baghdad

Salam Bridges,
Salahaddin – 1 destroyed

17

75

Aug 16

Outside
Fallujah x4, Anbar

Jisr
Diyala, Baghdad

Husaiba, Anbar
– 1 destroyed

Ajeel &
Baiji, Salahaddin – 3 destroyed

20

28

Aug 17

Habibiya,
Baghdad

5 Kilo &
Ramadi, Anbar – 4 destroyed

Gwar, Ninewa –
3 destroyed

Albu Jwari,
Durr Tal Abu Jarad & Baiji, Salahaddin – 56 destroyed

15

35

Aug 18

Asri,
Salahaddin

Albu Athea,
Garma & Humaira, Anbar – 12 destroyed

Ain al-Tamur,
Karbala – 1 destroyed

Tal Abu Jarad,
Salahaddin – 5 destroyed

21

4

Aug 19

Kirkuk,
Kirkuk

Baiji,
Salahaddin

Baiji &
Tal Abu Jarad, Salahaddin – 16 destroyed

12

2

Aug 20

Hawish,
Salahaddin

Albu Athea
& Zaqareed, Anbar – 10 destroyed

Baiji,
Salahaddin – 28 destroyed

27

Aug 21

Ramadi, Anbar
– 1 destroyed

Totals

12 & 141 Destroyed

85

171

Aug 22

Aug 23

Albu Haya,
Baghdadi, Haditha, Outside Fallijah – 4 destroyed

Aug 24

35
Kilo x3, Anbar

Baghdadi,
Anbar – 4 destroyed

8

6

Aug 25

Southeast
of Ramadi

Southeast of
Ramadi – 1 destroyed

Zafaraniya,
Baghdad – 1 destroyed

Baiji,
Salahaddin – 60 destroyed

13

7

Aug 26

Shuhada,
Baghdad

Albu Shajal,
Garma, Husaiba – 5 destroyed

Hamrin
Mountains, Diyala – 6 destroyed

2

9

Aug 27

North
x2, Anbar

Kirkuk-Debas
Road, Kirkuk

Albu Metairai
– 1 destroyed

Baiji &
Samarra Island, Salahaddin – 2 destroyed

8

18

Aug 28

Zafaraniya,
Baghdad

6

10

Totals

9 & 84 Destroyed

37

50

After taking one day off on August 22, the Islamic State
launched 93 vehicle borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) during the week.
84 of those were destroyed before reaching their target. IS has been using the
vast majority of these bombs to repel the on going security offensives in
Anbar, which had a total of 21 car bombs, and in Salahaddin with 62. Another 6
were destroyed in Diyala, two went off in Baghdad and one was dismantled, and
another suicide bomber exploded in Kirkuk. All of those together led to 37
deaths and 50 wounded, but the real numbers are likely higher.

The government’s plans for Anbar appeared to be disjointed
during the week. There was continued news of progress in Ramadi where the joint
forces pushed into more of the city’s suburbs. At the same time, new security
operations were announced in the west around Haditha,
Hit,
and Baghdadi.
There was another offensive in Garma predating all of these as well, which has
been deadlocked for months now. Baghdad only has roughly half the forces it
used to attack Tikrit committed to Fallujah-Ramadi, which has led to constant
problems holding territory it has cleared. For example, another operation in
East Husaiba was reported on August 25, the fifth since July. Sending forces
out to the west only increases these manpower difficulties.

In Diyala, a new operation was started to clear the
insurgent base of the Hamrin
Mountains. 30
villages were said to have been freed in the process. This area has never
been firmly under government control leading to these sweeps. After the
offensives are over, the militants move right back in.

The Peshmerga attacked the Daquq district of southern Kirkuk
province during the week. Press reports had them freeing fourteen villages. The
operation was meant to help bolster the defense of Kirkuk city. 11 Peshmerga
were killed and 24 reportedly injuring as a result. This was a rather rare
occurrence as the Kurds have dug into their positions and showed no real
motivation to move forward having captured most of the disputed territories
they seek to annex.

IS continued with its executions in Ninewa. During the week,
86 people were killed in Mosul, Qayara, and Issa. That included members of the
security forces, a reporter, three lawyers, and nine people accused of being
homosexuals.

The ISF and Hashd were still trying to take back lost ground
in Baiji and the refinery there. The amount of propaganda being dispensed by
those groups often makes it difficult to determine whether real progress is
being made there or not. For example, on July
2 90% of the district was supposedly cleared but IS still held
60% of the refinery. By July 21 the
center of Baiji town was reached along with the northern section of the
refinery. Despite those advances the joint forces said that it was now in
control of 85%
of the area. Two days later a Hashd spokesman claimed it had 80%
of the refinery, but then Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) contradicted that by saying
only 40%
of the facility was cleared. Finally, by the end of July all but one
neighborhood was declared freed in Baiji town. After that IS counter
attacked to try to draw forces away from the Anbar operation. Early in August
IS took back severalneighborhoods
and surrounding
towns, forcing AAH to send in reinforcements.
Despite these setbacks the joint forces continued to claim that they were
advancing with a series of contradictory announcements. For example, the Baiji
Refinery went from 40%
cleared to 60% to 70% at the beginning of
August down to 50%
towards the end of the month. Similarly 80%-90%
of the district was claimed freed with only
three neighborhoods of the town still under insurgent control, only to have
reports putting that figure at only half
of Baiji being under government control. This is all part of the victory
narrative being promoted by government forces, which continually exaggerate
their accomplishments. On the other hand, IS has consistently used attacks in
Salahaddin to distract Baghdad away from its real goal, which is the taking of
Anbar. The government played right into the insurgent’s hands with Prime
Minister Abadi saying
that taking Baiji was crucial in the war against IS and Hashd elements sending
in more forces to retake the area during August. In fact, Baiji has lost its
value after IS destroyed most of the facility after Ramadi was taken in May.
There are questions of whether the facility will ever be used again. Despite
that, Baghdad continues to throw forces into the area whenever IS threatens it,
which will not end as the group controls the surrounding towns. The district
has already changed hands several times, something that will continue into the
foreseeable future.

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About Me

Musings On Iraq was started in 2008 to explain the political, economic, security and cultural situation in Iraq via original articles and interviews. If you wish to contact me personally my email is: motown67@aol.com